Sun brings visitors for a busy Heritage Open Day

​With the sun shining brightly, and in collaboration with their always supportive partners in the local community, the Friends of Great Linford Manor Park joined in a highly successful Heritage Open Day on September 14th, 2024. Here are some highlights of the activities offered on the day.

History Walks around Great Linford Manor Park

​The history walks organised by the Friends proved particularly popular with visitors to the park, with at least 60 persons attending across the three sessions on offer.

A history walk setting off into the grounds of Great Linford Manor Park.

​As a special feature of the Heritage Open Day this year, walk participants were treated to a visit from Francis Uthwatt, the lady of the manor in the mid to late 18th century. As can be seen from the next picture, Francis (played here by costume maker extraordinaire Julie Ireland) was not the only person in the park in a wonderful costume.

It was delightful to capture this portrait of Lady Uthwatt meeting two special visitors to the park, who came dressed in traditional Chinese attire.

Lace-making heritage at Great Linford

Also in costume were Wendy and Ros, who were on hand in St. Andrew’s Church to demonstrate the art of lace-making, once an important cottage industry in the village. Wendy also brought along her extensive research into the hundreds of women and girls who had once plied the trade in the village.

Lacemaker Wendy awaits visitors in St. Andrew’s church, the tools of her trade laid out before her.

Milton Keynes Arts Centre activities

Milton Keynes Arts Centre was kept busy hosting a variety of fun activities for all ages, most notably offering visitors the opportunity to experience what it was like to have their photograph taken in the Victorian era. This was linked to the presence in the village in the late 1800s of a commercial photographer named Henry Bartholomew.

A couple have their photograph taken with a Victorian box camera in the Arts Centre garden. Photo credit: Milton Keynes Arts Centre.

An exhibition of original photographs taken by Henry Bartholomew was on display in the Arts Centre.

Additionally, the Arts Centre hosted several craft sessions, one to make a thaumatrope, and another to create instruments such as drums and mini banjos from everyday household objects. Participants in the latter activity were then invited to compose a piece of music inspired by the history of Great Linford Manor Park.

Great Linford village history talk at St. Andrew's

A new addition to the Heritage Open Day offering this year was a well-attended talk held in the historic venue of St. Andrew’s Church. Well-fortified with tea and cake supplied by the church canteen, some 70 persons listened to an hour-long illustrated talk, covering not just the manor park, but also the history of the village High Street.

The well-attended illustrated talk on the history of Great Linford, presented by John Gosling. Picture credit: Sue Maccabe.

Looking ahead to 2025 Heritage Open Day events

Events this year were very well received by members of the public, and an equally successful Heritage Open Day is eagerly anticipated for 2025. To keep up to date with local history activities in the park, which is located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, please join the Friends of Great Linford Manor Park Facebook group.